Explore NHL goal data as never before! This interactive visualization maps over 16,000 goals from the 2023 NHL season+ into cosmic formations. You have two ways to explore:

📍 Star Map Mode (Default): View all goals as a static star chart with galaxy regions subtly shaded. Search for any player and use the filter panel to customize which goals to include, then draw their constellation connecting related goal clusters. Perfect for analyzing specific players or creating custom star patterns.

🚀 Free Roam Mode: Switch to the traditional zoomable exploration where you can navigate between galaxies, clusters, solar systems, and individual stars. Zoom in and out to discover the hierarchical structure of goal data and click objects to see detailed information.

⭐ What You'll Find: Goals are clustered by location on ice, shot type, game context, and player similarity. Similar goals form "galaxies" - grouped together like stellar formations. The names of all celestial features are determined by the goals they contain.

🔍 How to Use: In Star Map mode, search for a player, adjust filters (shot type, period, etc.), and click "Draw Constellation" to see their connected goals. Switch to Free Roam mode using the top-right button to explore by zooming and panning through the cosmic structure.

🔍 How to Interpret: Think of this map as a star chart where every NHL goal becomes a star, and similar goals naturally cluster together to form cosmic neighborhoods.

What Makes Goals Similar?
Goals are grouped based on hockey situations:

• Where the shot came from - Goals from the slot vs. the point vs. faceoff circles
• How it was scored - Wrist shots, slap shots, deflections, etc.
• Game situation - Power play, penalty kill, even strength, empty net
• When it happened - Early in periods vs. late, different periods
• Who scored and who got beat - Similar players tend to score similar goals

Reading the Map:
The map has three levels, just like looking at the night sky with different telescopes:

• 🌌 Galaxies (Red) - Broad categories like "slot shots at even strength" or "point shots on the power play"
• ⭐ Clusters (Blue) - More specific situations like "first goals in the game scored in the first" or "goals in a 1-goal game scored in the 3rd period"
• 🪐 Solar Systems (Purple) - Very specific scenarios, often involving the same goalie getting beat in similar ways

What This Tells You:
• Large formations = Common NHL scoring situations
• Pattern formation = Some goalies get beat in similar ways which can be seen at solar system

• Isolated stars = Rare or spectacular goals

Use the search to find your favorite player and see their "constellation" - the pattern of how and where they typically score!

📚 About: This project is inspired by the fabulous Map Of Github. The code to generate this project can be found on it's github repository nhl-cartography